2024 Junior Pan Pacs: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 21-24, 2024
• Canberra, Australia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• All Days Prelims Heat Sheet
• Prelims Recaps: Day 1

Good evening, everyone (or good very, very early morning to our friends in North and South America). Welcome to the first finals session of the 2024 Junior Pan Pacs in Canberra, Australia. After a thrilling (and quick) prelims session, we’re in for a great finals. Tonight’s finals session is scheduled to finish in just under 2 hours, so things should be moving at a decent pace.

DAY 1 FINALS SCHEDULE

• Girls 200 Freestyle – Finals
• Boys 200 Freestyle – Finals
• Girls 100 Backstroke – Finals
• Boys 100 Backstroke – Finals
• Girls 200 Butterfly – Finals
• Boys 200 Butterfly – Finals
• Boys 800 Freestyle – Timed Finals
• Girls 150 Freestyle – Timed Finals
• Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

The story of this morning was 15-year-old American Luka Mijatovic, who kicked the meet off with a bang. The youngster started off by clocking the top time of the morning in the boys 200 free with a huge personal best of 1:47.96. Following that, he then swam in the early heat of the boys 800 free, where he clocked a new career best of 7:56.91, winning that heat.

Fellow American Gregg Enoch pulled a very impressive double himself this morning. Enoch swam a huge personal best of 1:48.97 in the 200 free, taking 2nd overall. He then went on to finish 3rd in the boys 200 fly this morning with a 1:59.46. Given those performances, Enoch is in strong contention to win a pair of medals tonight.

Another 15-year-old American Audrey Derivaux, has perhaps the best chance at breaking a meet record tonight. Derivaux posted the top time of the morning in the girls 200 fly with a 2:09.31, clearing the field by a very large margin. She has been faster than the meet record of 2:07.82 already this summer, so we’ll see what she can do tonight in her first international final.

American 18-year-old Leah Shackley has a great shot at a meet record tonight as well. Shackley swam a 59.69 in the girls 100 back this morning, touching as the only swimmer in the field under 1:00 and just off the meet record of 59.59. Shackley holds a career best of 59.25 in the event. Fellow American Charlotte Crush was 1:00.10 this morning and could definitely make some noise tonight.

Luke Ellis, an American 18-year-old could be a record breaker tonight too. Ellis is the top seed in the boys 800 free tonight, coming in with a 7:54.26, which is under Bobby Finke’s meet record of 7:55.16 from 2016.

Canada’s Aiden Norman looked great in the boys 100 back this morning, posting the top time by nearly a second. He’ll look to win gold for Canada tonight.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Meet Record: 1:56.15 – Erin Gemmell, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)

RESULTS:

1. Inez Miller (Australia) – 1:57.72
2. Madi Mintenko (USA) – 1:58.02
3. Milla Jansen (Australia) – 1:58.26
4. Kennedi Dobson (USA) – 1:58.29
5. Ella Cosgrove (Canada) – 2:01.12
6. Milana Tapper (New Zealand) – 2:01.90
7. Jenna Walters (Canada) – 2:01.92
8. Lee Won (South Korea) – 2:03.53

Australian 18-year-old Inez Miller swam her race spectacularly tonight, hanging with American 17-year-old Madi Mintenko early and making her move on the 3rd 50. Miller was out in 57.21 on the opening 100m, which was behind Mintenko’s 57.00. She then split 30.32 on the 3rd 50 to Mintenko’s 30.68, edging into the lead. Miller then out-split Mintenko once again on the final 50, coming home in 30.19 to Mintenko’s 30.34. That put Miller into the finish in 1:57.72, while Mintenko was 2nd in 1:58.02.

The performance was a huge one for Miller, who only went under 1:59 for the first time in her career this morning in prelims, when she clocked a 1:58.94. She’s now gone under 1:58 as well. Mintenko clipped her previous best of 1:58.07 with her swim tonight.

Milla Jansen, an 18-year-old Australian, and Kennedi Dobson, a 17-year-old American, had a fantastic race for 3rd tonight. Dobson made a move on the 3rd 50 of the race, splitting 30.40, which put her into the 150m turn in a tight battle with Miller and Mintenko. Jansen was half-a-second behind at that point, but closed very fast on the final 50, and managed to get her hand on the wall before Dobson, beating her out for bronze.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:47.11 – Flynn Southam, AUS (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:43.86 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

RESULTS:

1. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 1:48.05
2. Ethan Ekk (Canada) – 1:48.76
3. Marcus Da Silva (Australia) – 1:49.02
4. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 1:49.31
5. Kazusa Kuroda (Japan) – 1:49.53
6. Laon Kim (Canada) – 1:50.18
7. Kaito Tsujimori (Japan) – 1:50.93
8. Lucas Fackerell (Australia) – 1:51.20

American 15-year-old Luka Mijatovic got the job done tonight, winning his first international gold medal of his career. The youngster led the race from the start tonight, growing his lead to be quite sizeable by the time the final lap came around. He touched in 1:48.05, just 0.09 seconds off the 1:47.96 he swam this morning in prelims. He swam a very consistent race tonight, splitting 25.56 on the opening 50, then split 27.67, 27.48, and 27.34 respectively by 50 from there.

Canadian 17-year-old Ethan Ekk had a big swim tonight, clocking a new personal best of 1:48.76 for 2nd. Ekk swam his race very similarly to Mijatovic, splitting 25.81 on the opening 50, then going 27.88, 27.63, and 27.44 the rest of the way.

Australian 18-year-old Marcus Da Silva got in there to win a medal, swimming a 1:49.02. He came home the fastest of anyone in the field tonight, clocking a 27.15 on the final 50m.

American Gregg Enoch came in 4th tonight after posting the 2nd-fastest time in prelims. Enoch was in 2nd at the 100 tonight, however, he slipped into 4th over the course of the back half of the race.

Japan’s Kazusa Kuroda had a great swim tonight, clocking a 1:49.53 for 5th.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• Meet Record: 59.59 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2018)
• All Comers Record: 57.41 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)

RESULTS:

1. Leah Shackley (USA) – 59.46 (Meet Record)
2. Charlotte Crush (USA) – 1:00.19
3. Madison Kryger (Canada) – 1:00.69
4. Delia Lloyd (Canada) – 1:00.95
5. Chiaki Yamamoto (Japan) – 1:01.22
6. Zoe Ammundsen (Australia) – 1:01.59
7. Isabelle Gibson (New Zealand) – 1:02.46
8. Jessica Wilson (Australia) – 1:03.31

As expected, American 18-year-old Leah Shackley picked up the win in the girls 100 back tonight, clocking a 59.46. While the performance was just off her career best of 59.25, Shackley managed to break the Junior Pan Pacs meet record of 59.59, which was set by American Katharine Berkoff back in 2018.

Shackley was out fast tonight, splitting 28.52 on the opening 50m.

Fellow American Charlotte Crush earned the silver medal tonight with a time of 1:00.19. It was just off her prelims swim of 1:00.10. Crush was out fast like Shackley, splitting 28.82, however, she only managed to come home in 31.37.

Canada picked up the bronze with a 1:00.69 out of 16-year-old Madison Kryger. She was out much slower than Shackley and Crush, splitting 29.51, but came home well with a 31.18.

The other Canadian in the field, Delia Lloyd (18), was 4th tonight with a 1:00.95.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 52.34 – Miron Lifincev, RUS (2024)
• Meet Record: 53.27 – Daniel Diehl, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 52.38 – Mitch Larkin, AUS (2019)

RESULTS:

1. Aiden Norman (Canada) – 54.10
2. Blake Amlicke (USA) – 55.16
3. Jack Morrow (Australia) – 55.59
4. Sam Lorenz (USA) – 55.79
5. Kim Minjun (South Korea) – 55.91
6. Haruto Izumi (Japan) – 56.08
7. Benjamin Winterborn (Canada) – 56.41
8. Thomas Booth (Australia) – 56.42

Canadian 18-year-old Aiden Norman won the boys 100 back decisively tonight, clocking a 54.10. Norman was the fastest in the field tonight by over a second, leaving no doubt as he sped into the finish. He was just off his career best of 53.99.

American 18-year-old Blake Amlicke went out with Norman, splitting 26.69 on the opening 50 to Norman’s 26.30. Norman was far better on the back half, however, coming home in 27.80, while Amlicke was 28.47. Amlicke earned the silver medal with a 55.16.

Australian 17-year-old Jack Morrow clocked a 55.59 tonight, which was well under the 55.96 he went in prelims this morning, so much so that he earned the bronze medal.

After clocking a 55.55 in prelims this morning, American 18-year-old Sam Lorenz went 55.79 tonight, finishing just off the podium.

Of note, American 17-year-old Gavin Keogh clocked a 54.92 to win the ‘B’ final tonight, which would have been fast enough for silver had he been in the ‘A’ final. That performance marks Keogh’s first time under 55 seconds in the event.

GIRLS 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 2:03.03 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• Meet Record: 2:07.82 – Airi Mitsui, JPN (2022)
• All Comers Record: 2:05.20 – Elizabeth Dekkers, AUS (2024)

RESULTS:

1. Audrey Derivaux (USA) – 2:09.14
2. Misa Okuzono (Japan) – 2:10.92
3. Jessica Cole (Australia) – 2:11.23
4. Elloise Doolan (Australia) – 2:11.50
5. Kelsey Zhang (USA) – 2:11.80
6. Doyeon Kim (South Korea) – 2:11.92
7. Clare Watson (Canada) – 2:13.60
8. Yuika Kaise (Japan) – 2:16.20

American 15-year-old Audrey Derivaux won gold in the girls 200 fly tonight, leading the race wire-to-wire. Coming in as the top seed by a large margin this morning, Derivaux led prelims by a huge margin, and won the race by a big margin tonight. Her time of 2:09.14 was a tick faster than the 2:09.31 she went in prelims, however, it was a bit off her career best of 2:07.70.

After swimming a 2:11.91 for 4th this morning, Japan’s Misa Okuzono got the job done tonight, swimming a 2:10.92 for 2nd. She was sitting in 2nd at the 100 turn, then expanded her lead on the 3rd 50 of the race and held on for the final lap.

Australia earned another bronze medal with Jessica Cole swimming a 2:11.23. Cole was making a move on Okuzono on the final lap, where she came home the fastest of anyone in the field with a 33.97, however she ended up in 3rd at the touch.

Fellow Australian Elloise Doolan was just off the podium, finishing 4th with a 2:11.50.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
• Meet Record: 1:55.81 – Aaron Shackell, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:52.09 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

RESULTS:

1. Logan Robinson (USA) – 1:57.27
2. Riki Abe (Japan) – 1:57.83
3. Michitora Kono (Japan) – 1:58.60
4. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 1:59.85
5. Ike Martinez (Australia) – 2:01.05
6. Joshua Moore (Australia) – 2:01.52
7. Nicholas Duncan (Canada) – 2:05.25
8. Harrison Smith (Canada) – DQ

American 18-year-old Logan Robinson took the race out fast in the boys 200 fly tonight, and it paid off. Robinson was 56.31 on the opening 100, then clocked a great 30.08 on the 3rd 50, which put him into the 150 turn by a full second. He held on on the final 50, speeding into the finish in 1:57.27, which marks a new career best.

Japan’s Riki Abe was cutting into Robinson’s lead on the final 50 tonight, but ended up finishing in 2nd with a 1:57.83. Like Robinson, Abe’s performance tonight marks a new career best. He swam an interesting race tonight, posting the fastest split in the field on the 1st 50 (26.18) and last 50 (30.47).

Not having earned a medal prior to this event, Japan had a huge showing here, earning two. Michitora Kono came in 3rd tonight with a 1:58.60. He was just 0.03 seconds behind Abe at the 150 turn, however, he faded a touch down the final lap, while Abe sped up. Still, he managed to hang on to 3rd, earning the bronze medal.

American Gregg Enoch found himself in 4th place for the 2nd time tonight. After taking 4th in the 200 free to start the session, Enoch found himself behind the top 3 throughout the 200 fly tonight. He swam a 1:59.85, just off the 1:59.46 he swam in prelims this morning.

There was a disqualification in the heat – Canada’s Harrison Smith.

BOYS 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi, ITA (2022)
• Meet Record: 7:55.16 – Bobby Finke, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 7:40.39 – Sam Short, AUS (2023)

RESULTS:

1. Luke Ellis (USA) – 7:52.40 (Meet Record)
2. Kazushi Imafuku (Japan) – 7:53.99
3. Kaito Tsujimori (Japan) – 7:54.50
4. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 7:56.91
5. William Mulgrew (USA) – 8:01.63
6. Ethan Ekk (Canada) – 8:01.75
7. Aiden Hammer (USA) – 8:05.22
8. Tex Cross (Australia) – 8:09.04

American 18-year-old Luke Ellis swam a spectacular race tonight in the boys 800 free. He was tested early by many in the field, however, Ellis would move firmly into the lead in the middle of the race and keep pushing to the end. He negative-split the race by the slimmest of margins possible, going 3:56.21 on the opening 400m, then coming home in 3:56.19 on the back half. Ellis’ performance of 7:52.40 marks a new Junior Pan Pacs Record, as he blew away fellow American Bobby Finke’s mark of 7:55.16 from the 2016 JPP.

Of note, all 3 medalists tonight were under the previous meet record, speaking to the speed of this heat. Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku put on one of the most impressive displays of toughness I’ve ever seen in the sport. Imafuku swam in the ‘B’ final of the boys 200 fly, which was the heat that immediately preceded the 800 free. All he had between when he finished his 200 fly and dove in for the 800 free was the awards break for the 200 fly, which was less than 10 minutes long.

Imafuku didn’t let that deter him. He was aggressive with the 800 tonight from the start, and it paid off for him. He managed to hold up throughout the entire race, speeding to a huge new career best of 7:53.99.

Japanese teammate Kaito Tsujimori was right behind him, finishing 3rd tonight in 7:54.50, also a huge personal best.

American 15-year-old Luka Mijatovic‘s 7:56.91 from this morning would go down as the 4th-fastest swim of the day. After winning gold in the 200 free at the beginning of the session, Mijatovic finds himself just off the podium here in the 800.

GIRLS 1500 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 15:28.36 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• Meet Record: 16:08.09 – Lani Pallister, AUS (2018)
• All Comers Record: 15:28.36 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)

RESULTS:

1. Paige Downey (USA) – 16:24.58
2. Julia Strojnowska (Canada) – 16:37.72
3. Haruka Taka (Japan) – 16:42.56
4. Misa Okuzono (Japan) – 16:59.34
5. Amelia Weber (Australia) – 17:11.61
6. Kate Ona (Singapore) – 18:09.05

In a field of only 6 swimmers, American Paige Downey dominated the girls 1500 free tonight, swimming a new career best of 16:24.58. Downey got out to a big lead early, and only continued to grow that lead through the finish. She was pushing the pace early, splitting 5:21.56 on the opening 500m, which is on pace for around 16:07 for a 1500. Her splits very slowly trended up throughout the race, however, and Downey would split 5:30.92 on the 2nd 500, and 5:32.10 on the final 500. Still, Downey blew away her previous best of 16:32.05 with the swim tonight.

Canada’s Julia Strojnowska came in 2nd with a 16:37.72, taking 5 seconds off her career best with the swim.

Japan’s Haruka Taka earned 3rd with a 16:42.56. Fellow Japanese swimmer Misa Okuzono, after earning the silver medal in the 200 fly earlier in the session, came in 4th here in the 1500 with a 16:59.34. Okuzono holds a personal best of 16:39.62.

MIXED 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 3:44.84 – USA (2019)
• Meet Record: 3:46.83 – USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 3:46.52, Australia (2014)

RESULTS:

1. USA (Shackley, McKean, Cox, Erisman) – 3:45.21 (Meet Record)
2. Canada (Norman, Dawson, Fack, Lloyd) – 3:49.16
3. Japan (Yamamoto, Ohashi, Sakamoto, Kuroda) – 3:50.85
4. Australia (Ammundsen, Toohey, Pattison, Da Silva) – 3:50.99
5. Singapore (Cheng, Song, Yo, Mak) – 4:02.00
6. Argentina (Dieleke, Acacio, Cazau, Aguilar) – 4:03.16
7. Samoa (Hamilton, Hamilton, Sa’aga, Hamilton) – 4:22.28
8. Fiji (Naisara, Younger, Tokona, Moss) – 4:28.37

The US capped off an excellent first night of the meet with a meet record in the mixed 4×100 medley relay. Leah Shackley, the champion of the girls 100 back earlier in the session, was even faster leading off the relay, where she swam a 59.26. Making his debut, Campbell McKean then split a 1:00.35 on the breaststroke leg, which moved the Americans firmly into 2nd. A huge 51.88 fly split from Rowan Cox moved the US into the lead, then Rylee Erisman anchored in a blistering 53.72. The US finished in 3:45.21, blowing away the meet record of 3:46.83, which was set at the last Junior Pan Pacs in 2022.

Canada got off to a phenomenal start, thanks to a 53.86 from boys 100 back champion Aiden Norman. That time, like Shackley’s, was faster than he swam in the individual race earlier in the meet. Canada then got a huge 1:00.22 breast split from Oliver Dawson, putting them in the lead by well over 5 seconds at the halfway point of the race. Leilani Fack put up a very solid 59.83 fly split, however, she was was overtaken by Cox. Delia Lloyd anchored the Canadian relay in 55.25.

Japan and Australia were locked in a tight battle for 3rd, which Japan would end up winning.